CVE-2020-11022 in Communications User Data Repository
Summary
by MITRE
In jQuery starting with 1.12.0 and before 3.5.0, passing HTML from untrusted sources - even after sanitizing it - to one of jQuery's DOM manipulation methods (i.e. .html(), .append(), and others) may execute untrusted code. This problem is patched in jQuery 3.5.0.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/14/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical cross-site scripting flaw in the widely-used jQuery JavaScript library that affects versions 1.12.0 through 3.4.0. The issue stems from jQuery's handling of HTML content passed to its DOM manipulation methods, creating a pathway for malicious code execution even when input has been sanitized. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-79 as a failure to sanitize untrusted data before using it in a web application, specifically manifesting as a client-side code injection vulnerability. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious HTML content that bypasses sanitization measures and executes arbitrary JavaScript when processed by jQuery's DOM manipulation functions.
The technical flaw occurs because jQuery's DOM manipulation methods such as .html(), .append(), .prepend(), and others internally use the browser's DOM parsing capabilities without sufficient protection against script execution. When sanitized HTML containing script tags or event handlers is passed to these methods, the browser's HTML parser executes the embedded scripts regardless of the sanitization step. This vulnerability specifically impacts the DOM manipulation pipeline where jQuery processes untrusted input, creating a dangerous intersection between client-side sanitization and server-side validation. The flaw exists in the library's core functionality rather than being an implementation error, making it particularly dangerous given jQuery's widespread adoption across thousands of web applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe as it allows attackers to execute arbitrary JavaScript code in the context of the victim's browser session. This can lead to session hijacking, data theft, credential disclosure, and other malicious activities. The vulnerability affects both authenticated and unauthenticated users, and the attack surface is extensive since jQuery is used by millions of websites. The exploit requires no special privileges beyond the ability to inject HTML content into a page that uses jQuery's DOM manipulation methods, making it particularly dangerous in applications that accept user-generated content. This vulnerability directly aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for JavaScript and T1211 for Exploitation for Client Execution, representing a classic example of how client-side libraries can become attack vectors.
Organizations should immediately upgrade to jQuery version 3.5.0 or later to remediate this vulnerability, as the patch addresses the core parsing logic that allowed script execution. Additionally, implementing proper input validation at multiple layers including both client-side and server-side sanitization can provide defense-in-depth protection. Security teams should conduct comprehensive audits of all web applications using jQuery to identify potential exposure points, particularly those handling user-generated content. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of understanding how client-side libraries process untrusted data and the necessity of maintaining up-to-date dependencies. Organizations should also consider implementing Content Security Policy headers as an additional mitigation layer to prevent script execution, though this does not address the root cause of the vulnerability in jQuery's DOM manipulation methods.